Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

Smooth Puffers are drab gray to greenish-gray above with a white belly.

They have very small mouths with strong jaws.

Like most puffers, the Smooth Puffer "puffs up" into a ball in self-defense.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	No Limit
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Uncommon
General Habitat and Food Preferences	Smooth Puffers inhabit inshore/nearshore areas over sandy or muddy bottoms. They feed on amphipods (small shrimp like creatures), small mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates.
Did You Know?	Most puffers are toxic, containing a very potent and potentially deadly neurotoxin that is concentrated in the liver, skin and gonads. To err on the side of caution, extreme care must be taken when cleaning all puffers. Any fillets that could have been contaminated should be immediately discarded.
Common Lures and Baits	Smooth Puffers are usually caught accidentally by anglers fishing for other species. They can be caught with pieces of squid, shrimp, small live fish, or cut pieces of fish.
Typical Sizes Caught	In general, Smooth Puffers caught by anglers are around 24 inches in length (4 pounds).
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Smooth Puffers are not currently eligible for a Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament or Live Release award, but a large specimen may qualify for an “Unusual Species” award.
Delaware State Record	Smooth Puffers are not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

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